The Indian Odyssey of Michael and Nix

We’re in Coimbatore, otherwise known as “The Manchester of India.” Enough said. It’s hot, busy and dusty. The bus journey here was stress free. It was amazing how it all flowed. We found the right bus easily within only 10 minutes of arriving at Kulithalai, and we got 3 seats behind the driver for us and our bags. The horn on the bus was not operational (which could be a first in India I think), so the conductor had to blow his whistle out the window instead. We had a couple of close shaves but thankfully the brakes were in working order. We’ve just managed to book our train tickets to Ooty tomorrow – we’ll be travelling aboard a 100 year old steam engine on the Nilgiri mountain railway. It’s listed as World Heritage, so it’s got to be pretty good. I’m looking forward to the views, and moving up to a cooler climate for a few days. Accommodation in Coimbatore is very expensive. We’ve got the dingiest room in Tamil Nadu for over double the price of what we have been paying elsewhere in India. It seems that Coimbatore is a business destination, which explains the high prices since companies pick up the tab. The hotel manager seems genuine though, which is always a plus, and makes us feel better about staying there. He bigged me up to Nix saying “He is a good man. A social man. I like him.” That’s nice to hear. Some of the good vibes at Shantivanam must have worn off on me. Tomorrow I’ll be turning 41. Older? Yes. Wiser? Harder to see that is. As Yoda might say.